Annual Grant Cycles
For over 65 years, The Edward E. Ford Foundation has made grants to independent schools throughout the United States. Over 850 different schools have received over 4,000 different grants from the Foundation totaling well over $200,000,000.
The Foundation has long encouraged, and now requires, matching funds to be raised as a part of its application process so as to leverage even greater philanthropic support for independent schools. These matching grants now exceed an additional $115,000,000 in total support generated for NAIS schools.
We conduct three annual grant-making cycles, called "Agendas." The June Agenda focuses on Traditional Grants, where the Advisory Board reviews proposals from eligible schools and associations. School heads may request funding for any purpose that will assist and support their school's work. The November Agenda centers on Educational Leadership Grants, which involve fewer applicants competing for larger dollar amounts. Additionally, the Foundation holds a "Flexible Agenda" in March/April specifically for Special Grants.
Click the above links to see recently awarded/featured grants.
Traditional Grant
These grants are made in response to requests that can range from $25,000 to $100,000 and that must be matched by additional funds raised by the school at least 1:1.
Schools seeking placement on a Traditional Grant Agenda should be prepared to specify the anticipated dollar value of their proposal when they request placement. This can be months in advance of the date the final version of the proposal will be due, depending on the length of the queue.
Traditional Grants are awarded based on the quality of the proposal and other considerations in terms of the school's operation, but it does not identify certain areas of independent school work as favored. That is, you can seek guidance as to what sort of proposals have been funded in the past but schools should identify their own greatest institutional need that they think the Foundation can help address.
→ Read more about the application process, for Schools.
→ Read more about the application process, for Associations.
Educational Leadership Grant
These grants are made in response to requests of up to $250,000, matched at least 1:1.
Starting in 2008, the Foundation dedicated one of its three annual grant-making cycles to the Educational Leadership Grant program— larger grants to fewer schools— that was initially by invitation only. Beginning with the 2018 agenda, the Foundation allowed schools to pursue placement on an Educational Leadership Grant Agenda without first being invited to do so. The Foundation Board wants these Educational Leadership Grants to be generative.
We seek proposals that:
promise a significant impact on the practice and thinking in the independent school community throughout the country
are innovative and replicable
have a “ripple” effect where the benefits of the successful pursuit of an idea will not be limited to a single school
encourage bold, new ideas that address challenges faced by independent schools
represent original thinking and can conceivably catalyze change
inspire creative problem-solving and incubate novel approaches
Educational Leadership Grants are awarded based on the quality of the proposal and other considerations in terms of the school's operation, but it does not favor certain areas of independent school work. You can seek guidance as to what sort of proposals have been funded in the past but schools should identify their own greatest institutional need that they think the Foundation can help address.
Open Agendas
These upcoming agendas are actively accepting placement requests.
June 2026 Agenda
Traditional Grant
Final Proposal Due: April 1, 2026
November 2026 Agenda
Educational Leadership Grant
Final Proposal Due: October 1, 2026
Closed Agendas
These agendas are full and we are no long accepting placement requests.
April 2026 Agenda
Flexible/Traditional Grant
Final Proposal Due: January 30, 2026
November 2025 Agenda
Educational Leadership Grant
Final Proposal Due: October 15, 2025